quantum field theory

quantum field theory

n

(Physics / Atomic Physics) Physics quantum mechanical theory concerned with elementary particles, which are represented by fields whose normal modes of oscillation are quantized

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quantum field theory

The application of quantum mechanics to physical systems described by fields, such as electromagnetic fields. Quantum field theory was developed to overcome certain deficiencies in Schrödinger's equation, in particular the fact that it was not consistent with special relativity and was difficult to apply to systems involving many particles or to the creation and destruction of particles. See also quantum chromodynamicsquantum electrodynamics

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

quantum field theory - the branch of quantum physics that is concerned with the theory of fields; it was motivated by the question of how an atom radiates light as its electrons jump from excited states quantum physics - the branch of physics based on quantum theory QED, quantum electrodynamics - a relativistic quantum theory of the electromagnetic interactions of photons and electrons and muons QCD, quantum chromodynamics - a theory of strong interactions between elementary particles (including the interaction that binds protons and neutrons in the nucleus); it assumes that strongly interacting particles (hadrons) are made of quarks and that gluons bind the quarks together